Convertible bed, dresser and davenport



Dec. 5, 1950 w. R. BROWN 2,532,355

CONVERTIBLE BED, DRESSER AND DAVENPORT Filed March 27, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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dram @4222 Dec. 5, 1950 w. R. BROWN 2,532,355

CONVERTIBLE BED, DRESSER AND DAVENPORT Filed March 27, 1947 s Sheets-Sheet 2 1 \l.l W [1 IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 5, 1950 w. R. BROWN 2,532,355

CONVERTIBLE BED, DRESSER AND DAVENPORT Filed March 27, 1947 z Sheets-Sheet 3 5 IN VEN TOR.

203754172 7?. 3mm /W 14 7 4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 5, 1950 CONVERTIBLE BED, DRESSER AND DAVENPORT William R. Brown, Cleveland, Ohio Application March 27, 1947, SerialNo. 737 461 4 Claims.

My invention relates to furniture, and more particularly to article of furniture which embodies a construction affording several different types of accommodations within a limited amount of space.

One of the objects of this invention is anarticle of furniture which is readily convertibe for selective use either as a davenport, a bed,or dresser, as may be desired and wherein each converted type of use presents the full facilities thereof to the user.

Another object of the invention is the compact arrangement and construction of the piece making the same extremely desirable for use in hotels apartments, or homes where available space is of a limited nature.

A further object of the invention is an article of furniture combining a davenport, bed, and dresser, table, desk or the like, so constructed and arranged that the same may, by light efifort, be converted in use from any one of the uses selected to another of said uses.

A still further object resides in a convertible article of furniture which, when converted as a davenport, not only possesses the appearance of a conventional davenport design, but provides an adequate and independent inclined backrest and seat cushion for the davenport, such members serving also to hide those other structural features not present in a davenport.

Another object of the invention resides ill? convertible article of furniture whichmay be used as a single, double or three-quarter bed, theseat cushion being stored or rolled out of sight within the article of furniture, and the backrest being adjusted to a vertical position still hiding the davenport and dresser unit.

Another object of the invention consists in a convertible article of furniture which, when arranged as a dresser, writing desk, table "or the like, according to my invention, requires but simple adjustment to hide the bed and davenp'ort structure, that is, the dresser unit may be made available for use by simply rotating the back rest forwardly and moving the dresser unit for-- wardly over the seat cushion and back rest of the davenport.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an article of furniture convertible on a single or common base or frame to provide davenport, bed, or dresser facilities without the necessity of changing the position of the base or frame.

A still further object of the invention is its "adaptability in supplying many important s'erv ices easily and quickly. While ordinarily during the da'y it has the appearance of, and serves as a "davenport, it can easily and quickly be converted into a bed or changed into a dresser and, while ordinarily during the night it is made to appear as and serve as a bed, it can easily and quickly be changed to serve as a dresser or restored to the appearance of and use as a davenport.

Another object of the invention is the large number of good features combined in a single fiflilf pact article of furniture, including its simpr. city 'of design, its modern and good appearance when in any of its service positions, its ease of operation and the rapidity with which it can be changed from the facility Of one service to the facility of another service, its sturdy construction and special features enabling it to retain its good appearance with long and constant usage, its ability to furnish so many important basic and constantly needed services and yet be madeavailable at comparatively low costs considering the number of services furnished and accommoda tions afforded.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following de-- scripti'on of one embodiment thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters are em ployed to designate like parts throughout the .same.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention shown in use as a davenport;

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the same converted into a dresser, writing desk, table, or the like;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the same shown converted to use as a bed;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line i4 of Figure 5;

Figure Sis a vertical transverse section through the apparatus showing the same when used as a clavenport, but indicating in broken lines the positions of the back rest when not in use, that is, ,wh'e'nthe article of furniture is ,beingused as a coder as a dresser.

Figured is a rear perspective view of theback rest member;

Figure '7 isa perspective View of the bed frame springs and mattress and support as viewed from below;

Figure 8 is an enlarged perspective vieiv of 9 corner of the spring and mattress frame suppb'r't showing the hinged forward resilient assasst ledge in a position opposed to that shown in Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail view of a latch releasing mechanism for the hinged ledge shown in Figure '7.

In carrying out my invention according to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I provide a main frame comprising a base including the side rails l and the transverse forward and rear rails 2 and 3, respectively, rigidly secured together in rectangular form. The frame carries a plurality of casters 4 which sup port the same on the floor. Side members 53 which are preferably upholstered are secured to the side rails i of the frame as at 6 and terminate in their upward region in arm rests i, there being a rear wall 8 connecting the rear ends of the members and also secured to the rear cross rails 3 of the frame. The rear wall 8 may extend upwardly above the forward level of the arm rests to form an abutment or stop for the dresser unit 9 as will become more apparent hereinafter.

Slidably supported on the frame l is a spring and mattress frame 5 ii comprising side and transverse members for supporting the springs l l and mattresses 52 there above. The frame it carries on its under side a plurality of rollers 13 as well as the rollers i i carried along its outer side walls. The rollers it support this frame on the frame l while the rollers i engage a plate IE on each side of the main frame so that the mattress and spring frame it may be rolled easily either forwardly or rearwardly on the main support I. During such movement the rollers I i will prevent lateral movement and binding or frictional resistance of the spring and mattress unit as it is being moved outwardly of the main body or as it is moved inwardl thereof.

Vertical side and rear walls is and El respectively are secured on the spring and mattress frame and enclose the springs and mattresses I2 on three sides as illustrated in Figure '7. The front wall of the mattress frame includes a rail it supported on or secured to the base it and a gate l9 hinged at a plurality of points 29 to the rail I8. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the gate [9 comprises the substantially parallel, relatively movable rails i9 and 2!, there being end guide channels 22 secured to the rail is and arranged to slidably receive the ends of the rail 25. The rails IS and 2! are normally urged apart by the compression springs E's carried on the pins 2 3 secured in one of the rails or ii and operating in aligned openings in the other of said rails. In order to limit the upward movement on rail 2|, I provide a plurality of flexible straps 25 of leather or fabric secured at their ends to the respective rails it or 2 i. By such means, when the gate i9 is up as in Figure the cushioning efiect of the mattress along its forward edge is not impaired under load, that is, the load of a person sitting on the forward edge of the cushion of the davenport and thereby depressing the same will at the same time depress the rail 2! against the compression of the springs 23.

In order that the gate may be held in closed position or moved to the position shown in Figure '7 about a horizontal axis, I have provided means for releasably latching the same in th mattress frame. Suitable angle irons 26 are secured to the side members Hi as shown. The forward flanges 2! thereof lying against the inner surface of the rail 2| when the gate is up and affording a rigid wall behind which the free ends of the latch rods 28 may be engaged. The latch rods operate axially through the lugs 29 and through the latch box 30 which is illustrated in detail in Figure 9. The inner ends of the latch rods 28 are pivotally carried at 3! on opposite sides of the fulcrum 32 of the lever 33, the latch lever 33 terminates outwardly of the box 38 in a grip 34 there being a slot 35 in the box to permit the lever 33 to be swung in either direction. Springs 36 anchored at one end to a Wall of the box 30 are connected at their opposite ends to the lever 33 at points on opposite sides of its fulcrum 32 tending to there=- by normally position th lever 33 as shown in Figure 9 and to hold rods 28 in an outwardly extended position.

In such position of the lever, the rods 28 are projected so that their free ends are latched behind the flanges 21 of the angle irons 26 when the gate is up to hold the gate I9 in the position shown in Figure 8. When it is desired to release the gate so that it may be swung to the position shown in Figure '7, the grip 3% or the latch is moved to the left in Figure 9, thereby retracting the latch rods 28 until their ends are free of the flanges 2'! thus permitting the gate to be dropped to its lowermost position.

From the above it will be seen that the mattress frame including the springs l l and the mattress l2 may be moved as a unit outwardly or inwardly of the main frame I. Vihen moved outwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, the article of furniture constitutes a bed which may be of double or three-quarter size depending partly upon the distance the bed frame is moved outwardly of the main frame I. It is to be noted that the mattress frame carries a plurality of floor engaging castors 39 supporting the frame It along its foorward rail. It is desirable that one of these castors 39 be positioned on each end of the rail and that one be provided intermediate the ends as illustrated in Figure 3 so that the whole frame will have support when the frame is extended.

Storage space beneath the mattress frame and the main frame may be provided in the form of one or more drawers 5G which are slidable forwardly on suitable runner strips, there being a back stop provided at 4! to limit the rearward motion of the drawers.

A back rest 42 comprising a frame carrying a cushion is slidably and pivotally carried in the upright side members 15 of the main body by means of rollers mounted on headed shafts 43 operating in the slots 44 in each of the end plates l5. It will be noted that the forward end of the slot 44 is inclined downwardly as at 45 so that when the back rest is in the full line position as shown in Figure 5, that is, inclined slightly from the vertical, its bottom wall will normally lie close to or in contact with the seat pad 45, and will be retained in this position and against backward movement under load by the engagement of the ends of the rods 28a in the openings or notches in the plates l5. As the back rest is moved rearwardly to vertical position and the rollers travel up the inclined slots 45, the back rest is raised out of contact with the pad 45. The top of the back rest will rest against th forward portion of the dresser 9 and may be latched in place in this position by suitable means which will be described presently. When the back rest is in the full line position, it will be noted that additional storage space is provided behind the back rest and in front of the dresser section 9. This may be utilized for storing pillows, small cushions or other articles when the article of furp'ortion of the back rest against the dresser ahdat the same time permitting a substantially tarn h sliding movement of the back rest when the same is shifted from its run liheposition in Figure 5 to its vertical position as indicated by the broken lines therein comprises a rod or re- 'silient wire 45 supported in the back wall of the back rest and lying adjacent a vertically elongated ope'ni-ng 59 therein. The rod or wire 49=is anchored at 5| and '53 and at its opposite end forliied into a grip 52. At this end of the rod there is a slot or opening in the back rest through which the end of the rod passes for limiti'ng its lateral motion. A hook 54 is carried by the dresser 9 and projects into the opening 58 bf the back rest and is ad'aptedto engage and overlie the resilient rod or wire 49; When it is desired to release the top of the back rest from the hook 54, the operator merely grasps thegrip 52 and shifts the wire: to one side to release its engagement from the hook. The back rest may then be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as in Figure5 to its substantially horizontal position as indicated by the broken lines in this figure.

I have provided means whereby the back rest 42 may be releasably held at the lower or bed surface side thereof in its inclined full line position in Figure 5, such means being substam tially confined within the back rest as illustrated in Figure 6 and constituting a pair of latch rods 28a extending from a latch release mecham'sm similar to that shown in Figure 9 and indicated generally at 55a in Figure 6, the rods projecting at their outer ends through the back rest side plates to engage a recess 65 i theside plates 25 of the main body. By gripping the hand grip 34a located in the front portion of the back rest, and shifting the samein a clockwise directicn as in Figure 9, the rods 28a may be withdrawnfrbm the recesses '65, and the back rest 42 may then be moved rearwardly at its lower side to cause the pins 43 to ride up the inclined slot 45 and rearwardly thereof to the vertical position of the back rest as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 5. Suitable stop nuts (not shown) may be carriednear the ends of the rods 28a to limit the outward movement of the rods. It is to be noted that it is not necessary to release the latch 49 from the hook 54 in order to shift the back rest to its true vertical position inasmuch as the upward and rearward movement of the back rest will be translated through the rod 49 and the hook 54 without disengaging the same. When the back rest 42 is in this vertical position, the davenport cushion 46 may be shifted to its reap ward position as explained above without any binding action due to contact between it and the bottom of the back rest preparatory to arranging the entire device as a bed as in Figure 3.

When the article of furniture is to be used as a davenport there is provided the davenport cushion 46 which normally overlies the mattress l2 as shown in Figure 5. The cushion 46 is provided at its rear portion with headed pins 55 extending beyond the respective sides of the cushion and projecting into and holding rollers which operate in the elongated slots 56 formed in the side plates l5. The forward end of the slots 56 extends downwardly so that when the cushion 4G is in the position shown in Figure 5 it will lie flat upon the mattress l2, but when it steam position as explained above and held out of frictibnal contact with the mattress l-2 by the :pins 55 and roller 55a, the mattress frame In and the mattress may be moved forwardly and independently of the cushion 46 to the position shown in Figure 3 so that the piece may be used as a bed.

The dresser unit 9 consists of top, side and rear walls there being provision made for suitable drawers 51 and, if desired, a writing desk section 58. A mirror 59 may be supported on the top of the dresser 9 to move with the dresser unit or supported on the rear wall 8 of the unit, or it may be suspended on a wall of the room directly behind the dresser.

The dresser 9 is movably supported in the "article of furniture by means of side bearing plates 60 which are secured at 5| to the depending side walls of the unit 9 and which are formed along their lower edge with a bearing flange 52 for supporting the unit don a plurality of rollers 53 rotatably mounted in a channel -84, one of which is secured to each of the main body side members 5 as illustrated more particularly in Figure i. h

The bearing rollers 63 areprovided at intervals within the channel 64 from the rear wall 8 of the main frame to the forw ard end thereof as illustrated in Figure 5 so that as the dresser unit Sis brought forwardly u: the position shown in Figure 2, the flange B2 of each of the side plates will have bearing Contact with -a plurality or these rollers at all times during its travel to its forward iposition.

In operation, the article of furniture may be used as a davenport as shown in Figure l, as a dr'esser as shown in Figure 2 or as a bed of either single, double orthree-duarter width as shown in Figure 3. v

Assuming that "the device is arranged as in Figure 1 audit is desired to utilize the same as a dresser as shown in Figure 2, it is'nierely necessary for the user to release the rod 52 from the hook 54 disconnecting the upper side of the back rest 42 from the dresser unit 9, whereupon thebaclc rest may be rotated about "the pins ts in the forward part of the slot 44 to a horizontal position as shownfby the broken lines in Figure 5.

'Theidresser unit 9 may then be pulled to its forwardposition as indicated in Figure 2,-tu fiange r3 To use the apparatus as a bed, the dresser unit 9, if in its forward position, may be returned to its rearward position and the back rest 42 is brought to its vertical position as in Figure 5 by releasing the rods 28a from the openings or depressions 65 to permit the back rest to assume this vertical position, the pins 43 sliding up the inclined forward end of the slot 44 and back to the position shown in Figure 5. The next step is to move the davenport cushion 46 along the slot 56 to its rear position below the dresser 9. With the cushion 46 free of the mattress l2, the entire mattress unit comprising the frame in and the mattress l2 may be pulled forwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 whereupon the apparatus may now be used as a bed, it being noted that the necessary sheets and other bedding material may be in place so that when the bed is pulled forwardl it will be ready for use, although the bed pillows may have been first taken from the space between the dresser $3 and the inclined back rest where they are stored when the bed is not in use.

By means of my invention, I have provided in one compact article of furniture several facilities, any one of which may be at the users disposal without the necessity of moving heavy furniture units requiring considerable effort and without changing the position of the main frame of the apparatus. serves useful space in such places as hotel rooms or small apartments by making such space available to many facilities which could not be obtained by other means.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of furniture selectively convertible for use as a bed, dresser and davenport, comprising a main supporting frame having verticall disposed side and rear walls, a spring and mattress carrying bed frame slidably supported by and guided within the main frame permitting rearward and forward movement thereof, channel rails horizontally disposed and carried inwardly of and by said main frame side walls, a plurality of rollers aligned horizontally and carried y d within the channel rails, a dresser unit disposed above and transversely of the bed frame, supporting plate members depending therefrom and having a flanged lower portion movable along said channel rails in engagement with said rollers to slidably support said dresser unit and to permit forward and rearward movement thereof, vertically disposed object carrying side plates attached to the inner surface of the side members of the main frame, extending upwardly 0f the base of the main frame and inwardly of the said channel rails and separated therefrom sufficientl to permit free movement of said supporting plate members therebetween,

frame to a position above and free of the bed and also adapted to movement forwardly of said main frame rear wall, a back rest positioned forwardly of and by the dresser unit when said dresser is in its rearward position, outwardly disposed carrying means on each end of said back The invention further conrest projecting into and slidable in said slots, said back rest being thereby rotatable in said side plates forwardly from a substantially vertical position adjacent said dresser unit to a horizontal position to be supported by the bed at a level sufiiciently below the dresser unit to permit the dresser unit to be moved forwardly thereover to its forward position flush with the front of the bed in its rearward position when it is desired to use the article of furniture as a dresser, said back rest being further adapted to movement from its support by the bed to a substantially vertical position after the dresser has been moved thereover to its rearward position, said back rest being supported and releasably held in such position by the dresser and thus permitting the bed to be moved to its forward position when it is desired to use the article of furniture as a bed, and permitting the bed to be returned to its rearward position and the seat cushion to be moved to its forward and lowered position to be supported by the bed when it is desired to use the article of furniture as a davenport.

2. An article of furniture as defined in claim 1 including cooperating means carried by said dresser unit and by said back rest for holding the back rest in a substantially vertical position but releasable to permit said back rest to be moved to a horizontal. position.

3. An article of furniture as defined in claim 1 in which said aligned slots include a forward portion angularly disposed with respect to the remainder of said slots, whereby said back rest may be disposed in an inclined position when its carrying means is in the said forward slot portions and whereby said back rest may be supported in a vertical position against said dresser unit and clear of the path of movement of said seatcushion when said carrying means is in the remaining slot portions.

4. An article of furniture as defined in claim 1 including cooperating means on said side plates and said seat-cushion for raising and guiding said cushion clear of said bed frame in its movement toward the rear wall of said supporting frame.

Number Name Date 1,093,949 Schulti Apr. 21, 1914 1,562,205 Chempanos Nov. 1'7, 1925 2,263,328 Bouchard Nov. 18, 1941 2,436,546

Benenkorb Feb. 24, 1948 

